canthus, is distinct, while the snout is rounded. Its eyes are large with round pupils. Scalation Like other snake species, the forest cobra has skin covered in scales. Snakes are entirely covered with scales or scutes of various shapes and sizes, known as snake skin as a whole. Scales protect the body of the snake, aid it in locomotion, allow moisture to be retained within, and alter the surface characteristics such as roughness to aid in camouflage. The dorsal scales of the forest cobra are smooth, glossy, and strongly oblique. The colour of this species is variable, with three main colour morphs. Those from the forest or forest fringe, from Sierra Leone east to western Kenya and south to Angola are glossy black, the chin, throat, and anterior region of the belly are cream or white, with broad black cross-bars and blotches. The sides of the head are strikingly marked with black and white, giving the impression of vertical black and white bars on the lips. The second colour morph, from the west African savanna, is banded black and yellow, with a black tail, the head is brownish-yellow on top, the lips, chin, and throat are yellow. The third colour morph, from the coastal plain of east Africa, south to KwaZulu-Natal, inland to Zambia and southern Democratic Republic of Congo, is brownish or blackish-brown above, paler below, the belly is yellow or cream, heavily speckled with brown or black, and specimens from the southern part of its range have black tails. Melanistic (all black) specimens have been documented from west Africa. The head, body and tail scalation of the forest cobra: Dorsal rows at midbody: 19-21 Ventrals: 201-214 Subcaudals: 63-72 (paired) Anal plate: Single Upper labials: 7 (8) Upper labials touching eye: 3 & 4 Preoculars: 1-2 Postoculars: 2-3 Lower labials: 8 Temporals: variable Venom The venom of this cobra is a postsynaptic neurotoxin and bites result in severe neurotoxicity. Ernst and Zug et al. 1996 list a value of 0.225 mg/kg SC. According to Brown and Fry of the Australian Venom and Toxin Database, the murine intraperitoneal value is 0.324 mg/kg. The venom yield per bite ranges drastically among sources; a maximal dose of 500 mg has been recorded while another venom yield project on two individuals obtained an average dose of 571 mg (dry venom) with a maximum of 1102 mg from 59 times of milking. Signs and